Article dispensing mechanism comprising a plurality of endless conveyors



May 14, 1963 E. J. NEWCOMER 3,039,612

ARTICLE DISPENSING MECHANISM COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF ENDLESS CONVEYORS Filed Sept. 15, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR d] [VEFETT J/I-WCaMA-W [Il BY F ATTORNEY May 14, 1963 E. J. NEWCOMER 3,089,612

ARTICLE DISPENSING MECHANISM COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF ENDLESS CONVEYORS Filed Sept. 15, 1960 a Sheets-Sheet 2 my T \k L. 1 M o o o o o o o o o o 0 0L 0 o o o o o o o o o o m w m o N? mw Q Q o I: W A Q m m H! v N T a Q O a r J i o mm 7 7 w 0 N2 i TY. o g g 1; 3 sm 0 N mfl wmvm \sw BM w. o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o F. FF

United States Patent 3,089,612 ARTICLE DISPENSING MECHANISM COMPRISING A ILURALITY 0F ENDLESS CONVEYORS Everett .I. Newcomer, Great Neck, N.Y., assiwor to City Vending Equipment Corp, Maspeth, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Sept. 15, 1960, Ser. No. 56,148 8 Claims. (Cl. 221-11) The present invention relates generally to improvements in dispensing equipment, and in particular it relates to improvements in automatic vending machines.

Automatic vending machines of the coin-actuated type are and long have been widely employed for dispensing a great many different products, variously packaged. While conventional coin-actuated vending machines in many respects operate satisfactorily, they possess numerous drawbacks and disadvantages. Conventional machines of this type generally lack versatility and flexibility. The elements thereof are usually capable of dispensing only one size or shape of an article, and they require major modification and, quite often, rebuilding to accommodate them for dispensation of articles of other sizes and configuration.

Moreover, conventional vending machines require considerable floor area for a given number of articles to be dispensed thereby, such factor necessarily limiting their capacity. In addition, these machines are bulky, complex in operation and subject to frequent malfunctioning. They otherwise leave much to be desired.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved automatic dispensing machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved coin-actuated automatic vending machine.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved automatic vending machine capable of being adjusted easily and quickly to accommodate articles to be dispensed of a large range of sizes and configurations.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a versatile, flexible vending mechanism having a maximum capacity for its horizontal area.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved vending machine of the above nature, characterized by its structural ruggedness and simplicity of and reliability in operation.

The above and other objects of the present invention will in part be apparent and in part pointed out below in the following description of an illustrative embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of an improved dispensing mechanism embodying the present invention, illustrated partially broken away;

FIGURE 1A is a perspective view of an article conveying and delivery flight;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the dispensing mechanism, illustrated partially broken away and partially in section;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a circuit diagram of the dispensing mechanism electrical network.

In a sense, the present invention contemplates the provision of an improved automatic article dispensing mechanism comprising a pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending, endless conveyor chains having substantially horizontal parallel upper runs advancing toward a "ice discharge end, a plurality of regularly spaced first fasten ing elements located along the length of each of said chains, a plurality of transversely extending flights disposed between said chains, second fastening elements located at opposite ends of said flights and adapted to releasably engage said first fastening elements, a pusher member movable along a transverse discharge defining path adjacent the forward end of said chains, and drive means responsive to the absence of articles along said discharge path to advance said chains.

By reason of the above construction, it is possible to adjust rapidly the center-to-center distances between suc cessive article-supporting flights and so to accommodate and dispense articles of various sizes and configurations, while obtaining a maximum machine capacity. As a consequence of the above, an important advantage is achieved over the conventional machine in that a single mechanism may be employed to dispense any desired article, for example, cartons and bottles of various sizes, cans or other containers, baked products, dairy products, etc., the changes required for such other size or shape being simply, easily and quickly made. Of course, the cabinet housing the dispensing mechanism may be refrigerated or heated, as desired, for the particular article to be dispensed thereby. A further advantage of the present mechanism is that it may be easily and rapidly adjusted in the field to accommodate the different packages thus eliminating the necessity for returning the machine to the factory for such service, with attendant expense and shut-down time. Furthermore, with the present inventions method of front loading, a minimum vertical spacing between multiple vending mechanisms in a vending machine cabinet allows for a larger number of or variety of products to be vended in a given vertical height and greatly increases the machine capacity for a given floor area.

Another feature of the present invention resides in the disposition of the mechanism for motivating the discharge pusher member within the volume delineated by the conveyor chains, the pusher member extending upwardly into the discharge path. As a consequence, the capacity of the machine per unit of horizontal area or floor space is appreciably increased over that of the conventional machines otherwise constructed.

According to a preferred form of the present invention, the conveyor chains are sprocket chains carried by suitably supported sprocket wheels, the pin connecting the sprocket chain links being provided with inwardly directed extensions which define first fastening elements. The flights consist of inverted T-member-s having upstanding medial webs and provided at their ends with depending bracket plates having spaced apertures and defining second fastening elements. The bracket openings engage pairs of successive fastener pins and the center-to-center distance of the flights may be adjusted simply by removing the flights, transversely spreading the chains to disengage the pins from the brackets, relocating the flights as desired by bringing the brackets into engagement with the corresponding pins and then returning the chains to their normal position. The pusher member is mounted on a transversely extending endless sprocket chain and the upper advancing run of the chain projects upwardly between a pair of successive flights. Switch means actuated by the pusher member are provided for preventing the advance of the flights while the pusher member is disposed in the path thereof. The drive and sequence control mechanism will be hereinafter described.

Referring now to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, reference numeral 16 designates generally a support frame which is housed in or may form part of a vending machine cabinet, and includes front and rear walls 11 and 12 and 3 side walls 13 and 14. The right or discharge end portion of frame is reinforced by a first bracket defining vertical plate 16 extending transversely between and suitably secured to the inner faces of walls 11 and 12, and a second bracket 17 which includes an intermediate transverse wall 18 and laterally divergent wing sections 19, the ends of which are secured to the inner faces of walls 11 and 12. Mounted on the inner faces of walls 11 and 12 adjacent the upper edges thereof is a first pair of coplanar, longitudinally extending, track-defining angle irons 20, and adjacent the lower edges thereof is mounted a second pair of coplanar, longitudinally extending, track members 21, track members 20 and 21 extending to points short of side walls 13 and 14.

A first, transversely extending, freely rotatable shaft 23 is located between side wall 13 and the trailing ends of tracks 26 and 21, and approximately between the levels of the tracks, and is journalled to front and rear walls 11 and 12 by means of oppositely disposed suitable bearing members 24. A second, transversely extending, freely rotatable shaft 26, parallel to and coplanar with first shaft 23, is located between side wall 14 and the leading ends of tracks 25- and 21, and is journalled to front and rear walls 11 and 12 by means of suitable bearing members 27. A pair of transversely spaced first sprocket wheels 28 is mounted on first shaft 23 adjacent the ends thereof, said wheels 28 having their upper and lower peripheral cdges at about the levels of tracks 20 and 21. Affixed to second shaft 26 adjacent its ends is a second pair of transversely spaced sprocket wheels 29 the upper and lower peripheral edges of which are likewise at about the levels of tracks 20 and 21.

A pair of transversely spaced longitudinally extending front and rear endless conveyor sprocket chains 32 and 33 are supported by and engaged by corresponding sets of sprocket wheels 28 and 29. Sprocket chains 32 and 33 each include an upper advancing run along which the sprocket chains 32 and 33 ride on tracks 20 and a lower return run along which the sprocket chains ride on bottom tracks 21. Sprocket chains 32 and 33 are of somewhat conventional construction, including successive pairs of transversely spaced links 34, the ends of adjacent links 34 being pivotally connected by roller carrying pins 36. However, the pins 36 project inwardly from chains 32 and 33 to provide forwardly directed projecting rod ele ments from the rear chain 33 and rearwardly projecting rod elements from the front chain 32, the elements of the respective chains being in transverse alignment by proper angular adjustment of sprocket wheels 28 and 29. Pins 36, in addition to coupling the sprocket links, define first separable fastening elements.

A plurality of substantially regularly longitudinally spaced, transversely extending, article supporting and dividing flights 37 are carried and transported by sprocket chains 32 and 33. Each flight 37 is defined by an inverted T-plate including a base web 38 and an upwardly directed medial web 39. Depending from opposite ends of the base web 38 are a pair of vertical bracket plates 46, each bracket plate having a pair of symmetrically located holes 41 formed therein which are longitudinally spaced a distance equal to the spacing between successive pins 36, the holes in opposite bracket plates being aligned and lying in a common horizontal plane. l legularly separated pairs of the fastener pins 36 releasably engage the holes 41 in the second fastener defining bracket plates 40 separably to support flights 37.

To adjust the spacing between successive flights, it is necessary only to raise chain 32 above track 20 and front wall 11, pull the center of the chain forwardly so that pins 36 disengage the bracket holes 41, shift the flight to the desired position and bring the corresponding pins into engagement with the holes 41 and permit the chain 32 to return to its normal position. This procedure is repeated with each of the flights 37 until the desired spacing arrangement is achieved. It should be noted that other separable fastening means may be provided releasably to attach the flights 37 to chains 32 and 33.

Sprocket chains 32 and 33 and flights 37 are advanced by means of an electric drive motor M1 mounted on a motor bracket 42 supported on the inner face of the rear wall 12 of the frame at a point below and trailing the shaft 26. A pulley 43 is afiixed to the drive shaft of motor M1 and is coupled by means of a suitable belt 44 to a relatively larger pulley 46 affixed to shaft 26.

The mechanism for dispensing a unit article from the vending machine includes a second electric motor M2 having a longitudinally extending drive shaft to which is aflixed a sprocket wheel 47. The motor M2 is mounted on a base plate 48 provided along opposite edges with upwardly outwardly directed bell crank shaped arms 49 having longitudinally bored bushings 50 at the knee portions thereof. Slidably registering with bushings 50 are a pair of parallel, longitudinally extending, rods 51 having threaded ends passing through corresponding openings formed in the bracket plates 16 and 18 and .aflixed thereto by engaging pairs of lock nuts 52 embracing the bracket plates 16 and 18. The base plate 48 and arms 49 are thus longitudinally adjustable and are releasably fixed in position by means of set screws 53 carried by tapped transverse bores in bushings 50.

Located at the free ends of arms 49 are bearing members 54 which support parallel longitudinal stub shafts 56 on which are mounted idler sprocket wheels 57. A sprocket chain 58 passes about the sprocket wheels 47 and 57, and includes an upper transverse run advancing forwardly from the rear along a horizontal path immediately below the upper run of flights 37 in the neighborhood of the leading end of said upper run. A pair of outwardly directed rectangular plates or pusher members 59 are suitably releasably affixed to sprocket chain 58 at opposite points thereon by means of separable U-mcmbers 60 or other suitable separable fastening means, which are secured to the bases of the members 59 and embrace the chain 58 and secured thereto by corresponding chain link connecting pins. The height of pusher members 59 is such that they project above the bases of flights 37 when the pusher member is located along the advancing run of the chain 58, the path of the pusher member along said run defining the article discharge path. The longitudinal location of the path of the pusher member 59 may be varied by adjusting the position of the base plate 48 in the manner above set forth thereby permitting the centering of the path of the pusher relative to the bordering flights 37 attendant to an adjustment of the spacing of the flights 37. Moreover, pusher members 59 may be replaced by wider or narrower members, in accordance with the width of the articles being dispensed.

An article dispensing vertical chute C is located forward of the conveyor chain 34, in alignment with pusher chain 58, and is delineated by the front face of frame wall 11, a forwardly directed panel 63 affixed to wall 11, and a panel 64 extending from the forward edge of panel 63 and parallel to wall 11. A pair of vertically spaced brackets 65 are afiixed to the inner face of panel 64 and support a channel-shaped buffer member 66 which includes a vertical wall 67 terminating in horizontal legs 68 which slidably abut the confronting faces of brackets 65. Legs 68 are provided with slots 69 which are engaged by nut-carrying bolts registering with openings in brackets 65 to permit transverse adjustment of buffer member 66. Buffer member 66 is substantially medially vertically located relative to the upper run of flights 37.

A discharge cylindrical roller member 70 is provided with a longitudinally extending shaft 71 which passes through panel 63 and is journalled thereon by means of a suitable bearing 72. The cylindrical surface of roller 70 is of the friction type, and the upper edge thereof is at a level between the upper edge of wall 11 and the upper faces of flight base webs 38, the roller being in alignment with the discharge path of pusher member 59.

Aflixed to roller shaft 71 is a sprocket wheel 73 which is coupled by a sprocket chain 74 to a sprocket wheel 76 affixed to the shaft of an electric drive motor M3. Motor M3 is mounted on frame wall 11 in any suitable manner. It is to be noted that the peripheral speed of driven roller 76 exceeds the advancing speed of pusher member 59.

The arrangement for timing and controlling the sequence of operations of the dispensing mechanism includes a pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending horizontal support arms 77, terminating in depending legs 78 which are secured to the frame wall 14. Support arms 77 are disposed above the level of flights 37 and extend to a point short of the article discharge path. Mounted upon the ends of support arms 77 are a pair of aligned brackets 79 which engage a pair of aligned pivot pins 80 projecting transversely outwardly from the lower corners of an article sensing flap member 81. Flap 81 is of rectangular configuration, extending for substantially the full length of flights 37 and into the article dispensing vertical chute, and is inclined upwardly from the pivot pins 80 toward the trailing ends of the conveyor chains, and terminates in a curved upper border 82. Formed in the lower edge of flap 81 is a medially located recess 83 below the upper edge of which there is affixed a transversely extending bar 84.

A bracket member 86 is secured to frame wall 14 and includes a longitudinally projecting platform 37 located between support arms 77 and slightly below the level thereof. Mounted on platform 87, adjacent the free end thereof, are a pair of transversely spaced switches S3 and S5, each of said switches including an activating button 89 and an activating lever 90 having its free end resting on button 89 and its opposite end hinged by pins 91b to a bracket 91a located on the respective switches S3 or 55. Bar 84 rests on arms 90 and, in the absence of articles along the discharge path, it swings downwardly to depress arms 90 and buttons 89, thereby to activate switches S3 and S5. However, when there are present articles along the discharge path, they bear against flap 81 to swing it upwardly and to raise bar 84, thus permitting switches S3 and S5 to return to their deactivated positions.

Rear wall 12 of the frame has afiixed along its upper border, at a point trailing the article discharge path, a bracket 91 which includes a forwardly directed platform 92 located above the level of flights 37 along their forward run and extending for substantially the full forward run of the flights to the discharge path to define an abutment limiting the rearward movement of articles along the flights. Mounted on platform 92 is a switch S2 which carries a front bracket 94. Hinge-supported at its rear end by bracket 94 and swingable in a horizontal plane is a storage sensing arm 96, the trailing section of which is adapted to bear upon the activating button 52a of switch S2, and the leading section of which is inclined in a horizontal plane and extends forward of the leading edge of the platform 92 into the area of the rearmost articles located in the article discharge path, and located in the row of articles carried by flights 37 immediately preceding the article discharge path. Thus, switch S2 is activated by the presence of an article in the rear position of the discharge path or of the preceding row of articles, and is deactivated in the absence of an article in these positions.

A bracket 97 is affixed to frame front wall 11 and carries a switch S4. Mounted on switch S4 is a swingable control arm 98 which passes through an opening 99 formed in panel 63 and extends into the discharge chute and into the path of a dispensed article. Thus, switch Sd is momentarily activated by arm 98 as an article drops through the discharge chute. A switch S6 is mounted on the inner face of frame wall 12 and carries a control arm 100 in the end of the return path of pusher members 59, whereby switch S6 is activated only in the absence of a pushing member 59 along its forward discharge path.

Referring now to FIGURE 5 of the drawing, which illustrates the circuit network of the present equipment,

in addition to the above-identified switches S2 to S6 and the motors M1, M2 and M3, there is provided a normally open coin-actuated switch S1 which is momentarily closed upon the insertion of a coin, in the well known manner. In addition, there is included the usual coinblocking relay solenoid C, and a relay R provided with a firm arm RB having associated therewith the normally closed contact lRB and the normally open contact 2RB, and a second arm RA having associated therewith the normally open contact 1RA, the arms RA and RB- being controlled by a relay solenoid RS. Motors M2 and M3 have their terminals connected in parallel, one set of terminals being connected by way of a line A to a first pole of a source of electric current, and the other set of terminals being connected to the normally closed terminal CS6 of two-pole switch S6, and to the normally open contact 2RB of relay R. Motor M1 has one terminal connected to the power ilne A and its other terminal connected to the normally open terminal 086 of switch S6. The arms of switches S5 and S6 are interconnected. The normally open contact 035 of switch S5, relay arms RA and RB, and the normally open contact of the coin switch S1 are connected to normally open contacts 082 and CS2 of switches S2 and S3. The arms of switch S1 and the normally open relay contact IRA are connected to one terminal of relay solenoid RS and the other terminal of relay solenoid RS is connected to line A. The normally closed relay contact lRB is connected to one terminal of solenoid C and the other terminal of solenoid C is connected to line A. The arms of the switches S3 and S4 are interconnected, and the arm of switch S2 is connected to the normally open contact 053 of switch S3. The normally closed contact CS2 of switch S2 is connected to one terminal of empty indicator lamp L, and the other terminal of empty indicator lamp L is connected to line A, and the normally closed contact of switch S4 is connected to the other terminal of the electric current source.

Considering now the operation of the dispensing mechanism described above, the loading is accomplished by inserting from the front of the machine rows of articles upon the base webs of successive flights 37 until all, or as many rows as are desired, of the storage compartments of the machine, as defined by the spaces between the successive flights 37 along their forward run, are filled. When the machine has been filled with the desired number of rows of articles, flap 81 is raised by the articles located in the discharge path to deactivate switches S3 and S5, opening switch contacts 083 and 085. Arm 96 is pushed back by the rearmost articles in the leading rows to activate switch S2 and close switch contact 082.

Switches S1 and S4 are in their deactivated positions and switch S6 is in an activated position, whereby switch S1 is open, switch S4 is closed and switch contact 036 is closed, the circuit network being in the condition illustrated in FIGURE 5 of the drawing when the machine is in its dormant, full condition.

Upon the insertion of a coin, switch S1 is momentarily closed to energize relay solenoid RS which closes relay contact 1RA, shunting switch S1 to hold the relay closed, opening relay contact lRB to deenergize solenoid C and closing relay contact 2RB to energize motors M2 and M3 by way of switch S6. Motor M2 advances pusher 59 releasing lever 100, deactivating switch S6, and closing contact CS6, and as the pusher 59' continues to advance it makes contact with the rearmost article in the delivery path, which motion advances the row of articles along the discharge path, whereupon the leading article K in the row is engaged by roller 70 and rapidly carried along and dropped into the discharge chute, whereupon it strikes arm 98 momentarily activating and opening the switch S4 to deenergize relay solenoid RS and return the circuit network to its initial condition, in readiness for a repetition of the cycle described above. Following the dispensing of all the articles from the discharge path, sensing flap 31 drops to a depressed position, activating switches S3 and S to close contacts 055 and 053. Motors M2 and M3 are thus energized to advance pusher member 59 until it strikes switch arm 100 when the pusher members are out of the path of flights 37 and thereby activates switch S6 and opens contact CS6 and closes contact 036. Motors M2 and M3 are thus deenergized, stopping the pusher members 59 in positions out of the paths of flights 37 and the motor M1 is energized to advance the flights 37. When the next successive row of articles reaches the discharge path, they cause sensing flap 81 to swing upwardly to deenergize switches S3 and S5 thereby to deenergize motor M1 and stop the advance of flights 37. The machine is thus again in a position to dispense articles in the manner above set forth.

The process of delivery of individual articles K from the machine will continue as described until the last row of articles in the machine has been advanced to the delivery position. As the first article of the last row in the machine is being dispensed, lever 96 is disengaged from its contact with the last article K in the delivery path, deactivating switch S2 opening 052 and closing CS2 to empty light L. However, switch S3 remains closed to CS3 and the machine will continue to accept coins and deliver articles until the last article in the machine is delivered, whereupon flap 81 is allowed to fall, activating switches 53 and S5. Switch contacts CS2 and 083 as well as switch S4 are closed to energize the empty indicating lamp L and switch contact 052 and CS3 are open to completely deactivate the machine until it is refilled.

While there has been described and illustrated a pre ferred embodiment of the present invention, it is apparent that numerous alterations, omissions and additions may be made without departing from the spirit thereof as set forth in the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. An improved dispensing mechanism. of the character described comprising a pair of transversely spaced longitudinally extending endless conveyor chains having substantially horizontal parallel upper runs advancing toward a discharge end, a plurality of regularly spaced first fastening elements located along the length of each of said chains, a plurality of transversely extending flights disposed between said chains adjacent of said flights along said chains being separated by intervening first fastening elements, second fastening elements located at opposite ends of said flights and adapted to releasably engage said first fastening elements, a pusher member movable along a transverse discharge defining path adjacent to the forward end of said chains, means for longitudinally adjusting said transverse path of said pusher member along the direction of movement of said flights, drive means responsive to the absence of articles along said discharge path to advance said chains and means responsive to the position of said pusher member alongsaid transverse predetermined p ath disabling said conveyor chain advancing means.

2. A dispensing mechanism in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first fastening elements are defined by inwardly directed pins mounted on said chains and said second fastening elements are defined by bracket members depending from opposite ends of said flights and having longitudinally spaced openings formed therein registering with pairs of successive pins.

3. An improved dispensing mechanism of the character described comprising a pair of transversely spaced longi- 8 tudinally extending endless conveyor chains having substantially horizontal parallel upper runs advancing toward a transversely extending discharge path, a plurality of transversely extending flights disposed between and carried by said conveyor chains, means advancing said convcyor chains, a pusher member movable transversely between a pair of successive of said said flights and along said discharge path and projecting vertically above and below the plane of said flights along said upper run, and means advancing said pusher member along said discharge path and disposed below the upper runs of said conveyor chains.

4. A dispensing mechanism in accordance with claim 3, including means longitudinally adjustably supporting said pusher member.

5. A dispensing mechanism in accordance with claim 3, wherein said pusher advancing mechanism includes a transversely extending endless pusher chain disposed below the plane of said flights and comprising an upper advancing run parallel to said transverse discharge path, said pusher member being secured to and projecting 'above said upper advancing run, and means intermittently driving said pusher chain.

6. A dispensing mechanism in accordance with claim 3, including means responsive to the disposition of said pusher member along said discharge path, disabling said conveyor chain advancing means.

7. An improved dispensing mechanism of the character described comprising a pair of transversely spaced longitudinally extending endless conveyor chains having substantially horizontal parallel upper runs advancing toward a discharge end, a plurality of regularly spaced first fastening elements located along the length of each of said chains, a plurality of transversely extending flights disposed between said chains, adjacent of said flights along said chains being separated by intervening first fastening elements, second fastening elements located at opposite ends of said flights and adapted to releasably engage said first fastening elements, a pusher member movable along a tranverse discharge defining path adjacent to the forward end of said chains, a motor coupled to and adapted to advance said pusher member "along said transverse path, a roller at the end of said path, a motor coupled to and adapted to drive said roller at a greater peripheral speed than the speed of advance of said pusher and drive means responsive to the absence of articles along said discharge path to advance said chains.

8. A dispensing mechanism as in claim 3 and including a pusher-supporting pusher chain positioned below the upper runs of the conveyor chains, the pusher member being mounted on the pusher chain and movable therewith along said transversely extending discharge path.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 23,103 Newcombe Apr. 26, 1949 1,457,300 Cohen June 5, 1923 1,511,221 Joy Oct. 14, 1924 2,632,681 Newcomber Mar. 24, 1953 2,644,734 Gabrielsen July 7, 1953 2,757,784 Von Stroh et al. Aug. 7, 1956 2,761,548 Long Sept. 4, 1956 2,837,237 Stewart June 3, 1958 2,864,532 Gabrielsen Dec. 16, 1958 2,925,194 Mihalek Feb. 16, 1960 2,978,085 Stayton et al. Apr. 4, 1961 

1. AN IMPROVED DISPENSING MECHANISM OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED COMPRISING A PART OF TRANSVERSELY SPACED LONGTUDINALLY EXTENDING ENDLESS CONVEYOR CHAINS HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL PARALLEL UPPER RUNS ADVANCING TOWARD A DISCHARGE END, A PLURALITY OF REGULARLY SPACED FIRST FASTENING ELEMENTS LOCATED ALONG THE LENGTH OF EACH OF SAID CHAINS, A PLURALITY OF TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING FLIGHTS DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID CHAINS ADJACENT OF SAID FLIGHTS ALONG SAID CHAINS BEING SEPARATED BY INTERVENING FIRST FASTENING ELEMENTS, SECOND FASTENING ELEMENTS LOCATED AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID FLIGHTS AND ADAPTED TO RELEASABLY ENGAGE SAID FIRST FASTENING ELEMENTS, A PUSHER MEMBER MOVABLE ALONG A TRANSVERSE DISCHARGE DEFINING PATH ADJACENT TO THE FORWARD END OF SAID CHAINS, MEANS FOR LONGITUDINALLY ADJUSTING SAID TRANSVERSE PATH OF SAID PUSH MEMBER ALONG THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID FLIGHTS, DRIVE MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE ABSENCE OF ARTICLES ALONG SAID DISCHARGE PATH TO ADVANCE SAID CHAINS AND MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE POSITION OF SAID PUSHER MEMBER ALONG SAID TRANSVERSE PREDETERMINED PATH DISABLING SAID CONVEYOR CHAING ADVANCING MEANS. 